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New Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgement screenies look cutesy photo

If you ever played any of the Vandal Hearts games, you likely have the same fond memories I do of this tactical RPG series that more often than not fell under people's radar. I wasn't even aware that a new prequel was coming to the PSN and Live Arcade until recently, and now that I've seen these new screens I have to admit that my interest is piqued .... but is it just me, or does the art style have that "made for kids" kind of feel to it?

Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgement is a prequel to the series and will put you in the shoes of Tobias Martin, a young man caught between two kingdoms about to go to war. It will be out this September -- no price point has been announced yet. I'm not one hundred percent convinced I'll buy it based on these screens, but I'm thinking about it. What say you?


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29 comments | showing # 1 to 29

Tubatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 18:42
Tubatic
Its creepy lookin. I don't think I'm interested in this at all.
Shadowiii's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 18:43
Shadowiii
Barf. Way to ruin the dark, realistic art style of the first two games.
EternalDeathSlayer's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 18:44
EternalDeathSlayer
"a young man caught between two kingdoms about to go to war"

The originality of it all is just killing me.

Killing me.
Analoge's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 18:46
Analoge
Hello, uncanny valley.
EternalDeathSlayer's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 18:48
EternalDeathSlayer
Still, it looks fun. I've never played it, but the gameplay looks like an FF Tactics sort of game, so I'll keep my eyes on this one.

If it's 10 bucks I'll but it. Dunno about anything higher than that.
Justin Villasenor's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 18:51
Justin Villasenor
Those faces just don't look right.
ParaParaKing's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 18:58
ParaParaKing
Hopefully it is more like the first and less like the second one.

I'm really looking forward to this, because I loved the first game in the series years ago.
Primo's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 19:04
Primo
they look kinda like those little Homies toys.
Y0j1mb0's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 19:05
Y0j1mb0
Looks like a flash game.
Calamansi's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 19:16
Calamansi
Get Zwinky!
ChronosWing's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 19:21
ChronosWing
What the fuck have you done Konami... wtf... I can not express any emotion but confusion and disappointment at these screens.
Elsa's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 19:27
Elsa
it's got kind of a "bobble head" thing going on... though that might be the art style and direction they've chosen...
Qraze's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 19:30
Qraze
i thought ps1 game development was over. i am interested if the can just look a bit better.
Wedge's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 19:31
Wedge
Yay bizarre Western made psuedo anime people.
Genius's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 19:40
Genius
Looks like they are faithful to what I hated about the first VH game, the terrible art. The character and sprite designs in the first game made me sick and this new helping of bad art isnt making me remotely want to try this game.
ikiryou's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 19:54
ikiryou
Art direction or not, those ginormous skulls freak the hell out of me o_0
Takeshi's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 20:16
Takeshi
We'll see, I can't say it really like it, nor hate it.
Ganjookie's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 20:41
Ganjookie
Hopefully a paper bag option will be available to cover those faces.
HiddenAHB's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 21:03
HiddenAHB
Oh my fuckin god, i thought i was the only person in the world that knew that Vandal Hearts even existed. VH II was just awesome.
I will have to buy this.

PS: People, the characters won't look like these ¬¬
Los255's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 22:17
Los255
"Big Head mode" don't always make games cute.
NukaCola's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 22:50
NukaCola
Vandal Hearts II is my favorite turn-based strategy RPG of all time, and it's medieval soundtrack was one of the best. Shame on Konami for outsourcing this series to another developer to give us...this...
Trevor McGee's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 23:08
Trevor McGee
The visuals are just awful compared to the first two. I'd take the pixelated sprites of old over these anyway.
Chocobo Knight's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 23:16
Chocobo Knight
I'm really not digging this art design. The super-deformed aspect works against the gravity of the source material. If it was an original IP, I would be more forgiving, but this is Vandal Hearts.

It'd have to be one impressive demo to win me over. You know, I've learned not to bend the knee to nostalgia these days. Otherwise, I get kicked in the ass.
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/30/2009 23:46
Chronic Logic
Why are the heads so fucking huge? Dial it back a bit please. Funny people is a grimdark world? Not compatible.
KyleGamgee's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/01/2009 02:46
KyleGamgee
I really like this type of gameplay, and it's very rare. I know I will buy this on XBLA.
Tye The Czar's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/01/2009 08:46
Tye The Czar
Someone needs to do what Duke Nukem would to the Art Director. This is a travesty.
Dexter345's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/01/2009 10:56
Dexter345
If the gameplay is intact, I don't care about the cutesy character design. I'm actually surprised that you are, Colette. Or are you worried that the made-for-kids look will translate to scaled back, made-for-kids gameplay as well?
the GAMEGOBLIN's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/01/2009 14:00
the GAMEGOBLIN
The only thing I care about is if when someone is killed litres of blood will spew out like the first one

If it doesn't then VH is dead to me.
Solgrim's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/01/2009 18:10
Solgrim
ew
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